Top 5 Picks for PlayStation Now: PS3 Edition

CES has come and gone, and Sony’s legacy streaming service powered by Gaikai has finally been given a name: PlayStation Now.

The service will launch later this year on select consoles and other devices, with a beta starting soon. Though pricing details are still under wraps, the announcement did describe a multi-tiered pricing structure, including a la carte game rentals as well as a comprehensive subscription service. PlayStation Now will be offering a bevy of titles across PS1, PS2, and PS3…but what makes sense to put on the service? We provide some suggestions, taking into account factors such as franchise familiarity, sales potential, and playability with the presence of input lag. We think you’ll be surprised by some of these picks.

1. LittleBigPlanet Series

The sheer opportunities the digital playgrounds of LittleBigPlanet1 and 2 present to gamers and wannabe game designers coupled with their family-friendly nature would make these titles great choices for PlayStation Now.

2. Puppeteer

A labor of love for SCE Japan studios, this quirky platformer failed to light up the sales charts this holiday season. Obviously neglected at storefronts due to the hype-machine surrounding the launch of the PS4, Puppeteer is packed with character, charm, and clever puzzles, reminiscent of some of Nintendo’s most memorable classics. Besides, it’s way better than Knack.

3. Kingdom Hearts 1.5/2.5 HD Remix

Square Enix and Disney’s monstrous collaboration is finally set to take center stage on next-gen consoles after a generation-long absence. However, the glut of portable spinoff releases across every platform known to man certainly haven’t made things easy for casual players to make sense of the series’ notoriously confusing lore. With Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix still in development and scheduled to launch on PS3 later this year, it’s a good bet that fans of the series will be looking to reacquaint themselves with Sora, Riku, Kairi, and company before they are released to the masses in full next-gen glory in a year or two (or seven…)

4. Catherine

Take one part Resident Evil, one part dating sim, one part block-pushing puzzler, and one part Persona, and that’s about as close as you’ll get to describing Catherine. A surprisingly potent story-driven survival horror puzzler from the makers of Persona, this unique twist on an adventure game explores the darker, more twisted sides of humanity while at the same time introducing a surprisingly relatable cast of characters. Though the unusual puzzle gameplay did frustrate at times (particularly during the crazy boss battles), Catherine is worth checking out — there’s no other game quite like it.

5. Red Dead Redemption

Those looking for something a bit different from Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row could find a lot to like in this wild west open-world masterpiece. From the story and voice acting to the various gameplay systems, everything here is top notch. Despite pleas from fans, the game never managed to make the jump to PC and will potentially remain a console exclusive. What better way to introduce new generations of gamers to this Rockstar masterpiece than PlayStation Now?

What do you think? What would you like to see on PlayStation Now? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for our picks from the PS2 and PS1 libraries.